What's next you say, I think the plan is sit down and cry some. I need to make a list, I've gone out to the garage a few times now to try and get some work done. Only to be overcome with the mountain of work that I have made for myself. Someone seems to have started a trend on here, so I thought I would follow suit and make a LIST! Part A: Treat surface rust under driver side A-pillar Fit replacement driver side wing Seam seal wing to chassis Spray wheel arch/inside of wing with waxoil Remove subframe, steering rack, wishbones Check steering rack for play/leaks etc - refurb/paint Gather parts to be sent for powder coating (Subframe, front cross member, bumper bar etc.) Treat any rust in the engine bay and general tidy up Electroplate nuts and bolts Refit subframe, steering rack, wishbones once powder coated/painted Tidy up the brakes line I fitted a few months ago, I'll need a pipe bender and straightener to make the nice and neat Fit refurbished engine bay looms Part B: Recondition engine Electroplate nuts and bolts Powdercoat/paint brackets/housings Fit new gearbox input shaft (current one is leaking) Paint engine and gearbox Get the intake manifold media blasted as it has been painted metallic silver by PO Rebuild driver side driveshaft (passenger was done last year) Refit engine and gearbox Button up the front end I've started tipping away at it again, starting at the top of my list. Cleaned up the surface rust under the driver side A-pillar I scraped back the original seam sealer by about a 1cm as I wanted to ensure the new seam sealer created a proper em seal You can also see where I have scraped off the sealer around the seam between chasis leg and cabin. When I was removing the old wing I used a stanley blade to cut through the sealer. What I didn't know was that there was a seam there and I had cut the sealer right on the seam. So to ensure the seal was not compromised at the seam, I cut back about 1 cm from there and scraped some out the seam also. Cleaned back the sealant on the wing also to ensure the new sealant will be able to do its job. Sealant applied to bellow the A-pillar And the replacement wing fitted with new sealant As you can see I am no good at body work Comments/advice greatly appreciated. Next on the list is to waxoil over the seam sealer and bolts for added protection. I'm not overly worried though. The main objective was to get rid of the wing with the stupid looking vents cut into it. When the car is 100% mechanically sound, someday I would like to strip it all down and send it to a pro for bodywork and a respray. When Part A and Part B are done, the next chapter will be to refurbish the fuel system but that will be next winter. I think then, everything bar the body work will have been addressed on the car.
i feel like a few of us might be doing this in the not so distant future. What you have done looks good Dave, you have inspired me
Thanks lads. The fuel system definitely needs an overhaul. When I first bought the car the swirl pot needed to be cleaned of debris as it sounded like a box of smarties when shook. So I am sure the fuel tank will need cleaning. I'd like to replace any flexible hoses too for peace of mind.
More progress updates! Looking back at the photo's, it feels like I haven't gotten much done but my back says otherwise... Next on my list was to get the subframe dropped out so that I can get all of the connected parts cleaned up and refurbished. Subframe dropped Made a pile of stuff to get media blasted and powder coated. Aluminum parts are getting vapor blasted. Stripped down the front bumper to get blasted and coated too I basically went around the whole front of the car to see what needed to be media blasted and coated, and came up the following long list.... Front cross member bars Front bumper bracket Subframe Power steering reservoir bracket Coolant reservoir bracket Bonnet Headlight mounting brackets Power steering line bracket Anti-roll bar Wishbones Caliper carriers Cylinder head cover Clutch cable support bracket Gearbox support bracket Gearbox lower flywheel cover ECU bracket Fog light brackets Front engine mount bracket Power steering belt adjustment bracket Alternator adjustment bracket Anything that is steel and should be black! I then moved on to stripping down the steering rack for a freshen up. My steering felt a bit light so I was fully expecting play in the rack but there was none. I'll have to investigate the steering rack itself. I was debating stripping the rack down completely, but from what I have read online it's a whole world of pain, and quite a number of seals that need to be replaced. It seems in good working order so leave well alone. I had added new tie rods and tie rods ends to my list of things to buy, but discovered this lovely box of parts that I must have purchased in the past. Nice one! One less thing to buy.. Next up is to clean and paint the steering rack. Grind back any rust in the engine bay and paint. Tidy up my brake lines.
Your subframe looks immaculate compared to mine, I don't think there's any paint left on it Will look satisfying with it all cleaned up and coated though
Maybe it's the way they are and I'm just comparing them to more modern machines. But to me it always felt a little light and as if there was playing in the steering wheel to road wheels. What is this release valve you speak of? I'm off now to research how hydraulic steering racks work.
Every hydraulic pump has a pressure relief valve. Sometimes it's a piston, sonetimes it's a ball on seat. The odd time they get sticky.
Ah, use your head! I was stripping down the pump before clean up last night and the relief valve popped out, so I know exactly what you are talking about now. I'll give it a good look over tomorrow. And now that you say it, the pump was a little whiney. Edit: here's some really good information and diagrams on how the power steering pump and racks work Link